Equations

Simple Linear Equations

Contents

Identify what are Equations

Simple linear equations – one
variable, two variables
Plotting simple linear equations on a
graph.
Graphical solution of equations in
two variables.
 Introductory Problem

Anita buys 12 donuts from a shop. 8 of the

donuts are chocolate and the remaining are
custard. How many custard donuts did she
buy?
Total number of donuts: 12
Number of chocolate donuts: 8
Number of custard donuts: x?

8 + x = 12
x = 12 – 8 = 4
 Equation

An Equation is a mathematical sentence that uses

an equal sign to state that two expressions
represent the same number or value.

Example:
1)5 + 3 = 8
2)3x – 5 = 18
3)
 Linear Equations

A linear equation is of the form: y = ax + b;

where x and y are variables, ‘a’ and ‘b’ are real
numbers.

Example: 3x + 4 = 2y

Note: A simple linear equation is a linear

equation with only one variable. Eg. 3x + 4 =
2x
Do you know why we call it Linear Equation?
 Balance Scales to understand Equations

 Each side of the equation is represented on a

balance scale.

Do the scales
balance each
other? Why??

 Example: 2•3
2•3
= 1 + 1 + 4 1+1+4
 Equation Properties

Addition Property of Equality:

For numbers a, b, and c: if a = b then, a + c = b +
c.
a c b c

Example:

Becomes:
+7
7x = 7
x= 7/7 = 1
 Equation Properties

Subtraction Property of Equality: (Cancellation

property)
For numbers a, b, and c: if a + c = b + c , then a = b.
a c b c
Example:

Becomes:
-3
5x = 1
x= 1/5
 Equation Properties

Multiplication Property of Equality:

For any numbers a, b and c, if a = b then, ac = bc
a a b b
a a a b b b
a = b, 5a = 5b

Division Property of Equality: (Cancellation

Property)
For any numbers, a, b, and c with c ≠ 0, if ac = bc,
then a = b.
e.g. 4a = 4b then a = b
Equation Properties

Addition and Subtraction

Properties:
If a = b and c = d,
then a + c = b + d
and a – c = b - d
 Examples

The properties of equation mean that if you do any

operation on both sides of the equal to side, the
equation remains the same.
 8=8
 8+4=8+4
 12 = 12 (Addition property of equality)
 12 – 2 = 12 – 2
 10 = 10 (Subtraction Property of equality)
Examples

10 = 10
10•2 = 10•2
20 = 20 (Multiplication property of
equality)
20 ÷ 20 = 20 ÷20
1 = 1 (Division Property of equality)
Equivalence of equations

 Based on the properties of the equation:

what can we say about these equations:
(1) 28x + 14y -7=0
(2) 4x + 2y -1 = 0
Select the best option:
1) Both are equal
The answer is 1:
2) (1) < (2) Both are equal using the
division property both will be
3) (1) > (2) the same
Solving Simple Linear
Equations

The objective is to get the variable on

one side of the equation by using the
equation properties.

Example:
X + 4 = 20
X + 4 – 4 = 20 – 4 (Subtraction law)
X = 16 (Solution)
Exercise: solve: 3x = x + 10

A)

3x = x + 10
3x – x = x – x + 10
2x = 10
2x/2 = 10/2
x=5
 Exercises: solve for x
Solve for ‘x’: 4.
1. 4x + 5x = 99

5.

2. 4(x + 3) + 5(x + 3) = 99
6.

3. 7.
 Plotting simple linear equations
on a graph:
Steps:
1. Solve for x
2. Plot on the graph.

Example:
Solve 2x + 5 = 3x – 4 and plot the solution on a
graph
Step 1: Solve for ‘x’
 Answer

X=9
2x + 5 = 3x – 4
5 = 3x – 2x – 4
5=x–4
5+4=x
9=x
The line is
parallel ‫ يوازي‬to
the Y-axis
 Exercise:

Solve: 5(2y + 1) + 7(2y + 1) = 84 and

plot the solution on a graph

(10y + 5) + (14y +7) = 84

10y + 14y + 5 +7 = 84

24y = 84 – 7 – 5
24y = 72
y=3
Linear Equations in two variables

Equations of the form:

Is called a linear equation with two variables.

Example:
 Solution to a linear equation

 A solution to a linear equation is a value for the variable

or values for the variables that make the equation true.

 A true equation is one in which the values on the left of

the equal sign is the same as the value on the right.

 To solve an equation means to find all its solutions

 Graphing a Linear Equation
y
How do we graph linear equations?
Let’s try this one: y = 3x – 2
Make a Table of values
x
x y
–2 –8 y = 3(–2)the
– 2table
= –8
Complete
–1 –5 byy inputting
= 3(–1) – the
2 =x–5
-
values and
0 –2 y = 3(0) –the2 = –2
calculating
1 1 corresponding
y = 3(1) – 2 y =-1
values.
2 4 y = 3(2) – 2 = 4

The x - values are picked by YOU!

 Graphing a Linear Equation
y
How about another one!

Let’s try x – 2y = 5.

x
 Graphing a Linear Equation
How about another one!
Let’s try x – 2y = 5.
y

-2 y = 5 – x
2y=-5+x
y = -5 + x = 1 (x-5) = x-5
2 2 2 2 x

• Set the table

x y
-2 ½ (-2-5) = -3.5
-1 ½ (-1-5) = -3
0 ½ (0-5) = -2.5
1 ½ (1-5) = -2
2 ½ (2 – 5) = -1.5
 Graphing a Linear Equation
How about another one!
Let’s try x – 2y = 5.

• Rearrange the equation in the form of y = mx +

c
x – 2y = 5
- 2y = 5 – x
2y = x – 5
y = 1 (x – 5)
2
• Set the table
x y

-2 ½ (-2-5) = -3.5

-1 ½ (-1-5) = -3

0 ½ (0-5) = -2.5

1 ½ (1-5) = -2

2 ½ (2 – 5) = -1.5
Plotting two variable equations

The equation
y = 2x + 6
is a linear equation

X Y =2x +6 Y (x, y)

1 2(1) +6 8 (1, 8)
2 2(2) +6 10 (2, 10)
3 2(3) +6 12 (3, 12)
4 2(4) +6 14 (4, 14)
5 2(5) +6 16 (5, 16)
exercise

Substitute x
for zero and
solve (see how
much is y when x
= 0)

Then do the
same for y (see
how much is x
when y = 0
exercise
exercise
 System of Linear equations

A system of linear equations consists of

two or more linear equations.
This section focuses on only two equations
at a time.
The solution of a system of linear
equations in two variables is any ordered
pair that solves both of the linear
equations
Solution of a System: Example
Determine whether the given point is a solution of
the following system.
point: (– 3, 1)
system: x – y = – 4 and 2x + 10y = 4
•Put the values into the equations.
First equation: – 3 – 1 = – 4 true
Second equation: 2(– 3) + 10(1) = – 6 + 10 = 4
true
•Since the point (– 3, 1) produces a true statement in
both equations, it is a solution.
 Solution of a System: Example

Determine whether the given point is a solution of the following system

point: (4, 2)
system: 2x – 5y = – 2 and 3x + 4y = 4
Put the values into the equations
First equation: 2(4) – 5(2) = 8 – 10 = – 2 true
Second equation: 3(4) + 4(2) = 12 + 8 = 20  4 false
Since the point (4, 2) produces a true statement in only one equation, it
is NOT a solution.
 Finding a Solution by Graphing

• A solution of a system of equations is a

solution common to both equations, it
would also be a point common to the
graphs of both equations.
• So to find the solution of a system of 2
linear equations, graph the equations
and see where the lines intersect.
 Finding a Solution by Graphing
y

Solve the following (-5, 5)

(-2, 4) (6, 6)
system of equations
by graphing. (4, 2)
(1, 3)
2x – y = 6 and
x + 3y = 10 (3, 0)
x

First, graph 2x – y = 6.
Second, graph x + 3y = 10. (0, -6)

The lines APPEAR to intersect at (4, 2). Continued.

Finding a Solution by Graphing: Example continued

Although the solution to the system of equations

appears to be (4, 2), you still need to check the
answer by substituting x = 4 and y = 2 into the two
equations.
First equation,
2(4) – 2 = 8 – 2 = 6 true
Second equation,
4 + 3(2) = 4 + 6 = 10 true
The point (4, 2) checks, so it is the solution of the
system.
 Finding a Solution by Graphing: Example

Solve the following (6, 4)

system of equations by
graphing. (0, 2)
(6, 1)
– x + 3y = 6 and (3, 0)
x
3x – 9y = 9 (-6, 0)
(0, -1)

First, graph – x + 3y = 6.
Second, graph 3x – 9y = 9.
The lines APPEAR to be parallel. Hence NO SOLUTION!!
 Finding a Solution by Graphing: Example
y

Solve the following

system of equations by (5, 2)
graphing. (-1, 0) (2, 1)
x = 3y – 1 and x

2x – 6y = –2 (7, -2)
(-4, -1)

First, graph x = 3y – 1.
Second, graph 2x – 6y = –2.
The lines APPEAR to be identical. Hence INFINITE SOLUTIONS